PIPELINE PREVIEWS

Cardium Therapeutics has announced that it has received 510(k) clearance from the FDA to market and sell Cardium's Excellagen^TM professional-use. Excellagen is a highly refined fibrillar flowable bovine collagen topical gel (2.6%). It will be marketed as a sterile, syringe- based advanced wound care product for the management of diabetic foot ulcers and other dermal wounds following surgical debridement procedures. Excellagen is designed to be used immediately following surgical debridement.

In addition to diabetic foot ulcers, Excellagen is also cleared for use in the management of other dermal wounds including partial and full-thickness wounds, pressure ulcers, venous ulcers, chronic vascular ulcers, tunneled/undermined wounds, surgical wounds (donor sites/grafts, post-Moh's surgery, post-laser surgery, podiatric, wound dehiscence), trauma wounds (abrasions, lacerations, second-degree burns and skin tears) and draining wounds.

Excellagen, intended for use at one- to two-week intervals following surgical debridement (with weekly outer dressing changes), will initially be supplied in the form of a kit consisting of four sterile, pre-filled, ready to use single-use syringes, each containing 0.5 cc of Excellagen formulated collagen topical gel (2.6%), and four sterile flexible applicators to facilitate topical administration to the wound site over a course of up to four treatments.

Cardium distinguishes Excellagen from other products by pointing out that other collagen-based products include granulated collagens that require mixing prior to use, as well as a variety of sheet-based products.

CoreRx Pharmaceuticals has added an Xcelodose^® precision powder micro-dosing system to its product development capabilities in response to client requirements for pre-clinical and early phase clinical supply. CoreRx advertises that for simple formulations of API or powder- in-capsule, the Xcelodose system can significantly reduce processing time and API usage resulting in cost savings when compared to hand-filling options.

The Xcelodose system is a precision powder micro-doser and automated encapsulator that has the ability to fill formulations or API directly into capsules with a high level of accuracy. The Xcelodose system can dispense amounts as low as 100 micrograms and up to 100 milligrams and beyond, into capsules from size 00 to size 9. Dosing directly into capsules can reduce the amount of API required. Additionally, the unit minimizes overall development time by simplifying analytical and stability protocols.

Sagent Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has announced that the FDA has approved its bupivacaine hydrochloride injection, USP — a local or regional anesthetic. Sagent's bupivacaine will be available in six single-dose and two multi-dose latex-free vials.

Bupivacaine hydrochloride is indicated for the production of local or regional anesthesia or analgesia for surgery, dental and oral surgery procedures, diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, and for obstetrical procedures.

Topical Interferon Alpha-2b is Helix Biopharma's most advanced product in development incorporating its proprietary Biphasix^TM> drug delivery technology and is designed to offer a superior means of delivering interferon-alpha-2b therapeutically to human papillomavirus (HPV)-infected tissues. The FDA has placed a "clinical hold" on Helix BioPharma's pending topical interferon alpha-2b, phase 2/3 low- grade cervical lesion efficacy trial investigational new drug application. Helix Biopharma has announced that it has filed its complete response to the "clinical hold" issues previously raised by the FDA. The review process typically requires 30 days, during which time the FDA will decide if an applicant is permitted to proceed with its proposed clinical trial.

Yaupon Therapeutics, Inc., has announced that the FDA has accepted the filing of a New Drug Application (NDA) for its